Construction employment in Connecticut’s three largest metro areas is on the rise again after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the typical flow of projects.

Construction was declared an essential service during the state’s pandemic shutdown, and so projects under construction were allowed to continue.

Hartford, which has he largest number of construction workers statewide, had roughly 19,700 in the industry in June, according to Census Bureau figures analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America. That represents a 6 percent increase from May, but is still 6 percent down from where the industry was in June of 2019, with roughly 21,000 employed.

A similar pattern played out in Fairfield County, with around 12,200 employed in construction in June, a 6 percent increase from May but 10 percent down from June 2019.

The biggest increase was seen in Greater New Haven, likely due to the city’s multifamily building boom, which local media reports is resuming now that financing has become available again for such projects. There, construction employment increased 12 percent between May and June, to 10,900, but is still down 7 percent from June 2019, when it sat at 13,500.

Compared to the national average, Connecticut construction employees are doing better than their peers. Construction employment decreased in 225 out of 358 metro areas between June 2019 and last month despite widespread increases from May to June, according the AGCA. Association officials urged government officials to enact liability reform, boost infrastructure investments and extend tax credits to help the industry recover and rebuild in a statement accompanying the data release.

“It’s troubling to see construction employment lagging year-ago levels in most locations, in spite of a strong rebound in May and June,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “Those gains were not enough to erase the huge losses in March and April. Many indicators since the employment data were collected in mid-June suggest construction employment will soon decline, or stagnate at best, in much of the country.”

Simonson noted that construction employment was stagnant in 39 metro areas and increased in only 94 areas (26 percent) over the past 12 months. Eighteen metros had all-time lows for June construction employment, while 28 areas had record highs for June, in data going back to 1990 for most areas.

New York City lost the most construction jobs over 12 months (-38,200 jobs, -24 percent) despite having the largest gain from May to June. Southeastern Massachusetts had the largest percentage decline: -37 percent (-2,200 jobs). Austin-Round Rock, Texas added the most construction jobs from June 2019 to June 2020: 4,100 jobs (6 percent). Walla Walla, Washington had the highest percentage increase: 27 percent (300 jobs).

From May to June – a month when construction employment typically increases in most metro areas, 291 metros added construction employees; 42 areas had a decrease; and employment was unchanged in 25 areas. New York City added the most construction jobs between May and June: 22,100 or 22 percent.